Fresh Intel: The Weekly Roundup
Weekly News Roundup submitted by Ron DeLord
News and commentary impacting police, deputies, corrections, fire, emergency services and public employees throughout the United States. You can access the full article by clicking on the link. Articles are archived on my web page for those searching for information on a particular topic. The posting of an article does NOT reflect my opinion.
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FBI Director: Viral Video Era Effecting Police Work
CHICAGO — Police anxiety in the era of ever-present cellphone cameras and viral videos partly explains why violent crime has risen in several large U.S. cities this year, FBI Director James Comey said Friday.
Comey told several hundred students during a forum at the University of Chicago Law School that it’s critical to do more to address a widening gulf between law enforcement and citizens in many communities, particularly African-Americans.
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Mpls., St. Paul Police Unions Echo FBI Chief’s Concerns About “Ferguson Effect”
Calls to hold police officers more accountable for their actions could be part of what’s causing violent crime to spike across the country, according to the top law enforcement official in the country—and now, some officers in the Twin Cities as well.
The theory is that ever since the events in Ferguson last year, and the increasing number of police brutality videos and criminal indictments of police officers in its wake, some officers are pursuing some crime less aggressively, fearing a misstep could cost them their careers.
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Is Camden a Model for Future of Policing?
Camden, New Jersey (CNN)The beeping sound coming from a screen mounted on the dashboard of Lt. Zsakheim James’ police car was consistent. The screen was connected to a half dozen cameras on the patrol car’s trunk and scanned each license plate we passed, beeping when it found a car with expired plates or one that may have been involved in some sort of criminal activity.
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Changes Set for Cleveland Police Fall in Line with Practices Recommended by Justice Department Panel
Many of the reforms that the city of Cleveland will soon implement as part of a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department fall in line with the best practices that a panel of experts came up with and presented to President Barack Obama.
An advisory report by the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing makes several recommendations that cities and communities can follow in order to improve relations between police officers and the people they protect. The report was announced in a news release by the Justice Department on Tuesday.
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Council Votes to Cut Firefighters, Hire Additional EMS Paramedics
In accepting a proposal to cut 20 firefighter positions over the next three years, the mayor says that city council sent a clear message to the 10 associations and unions that represent city workers.
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Arizona Court of Appeals Curbs Public-Sector Union “Release Time”
Conducting union business and performing employment duties are two activities that don’t, and shouldn’t, overlap. Yet in a growing number of jurisdictions, taxpayers are being forced to subsidize both. In Arizona, at least, this trend has hit a detour. READ MORE
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Statewide, Police Applicants Failing Background Checks
For Oregon’s police agencies and correctional facilities, finding new officers is becoming increasingly difficult. Scores of applicants are failing required background checks, psychological assessments, and physical fitness tests. READ MORE
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TRO Filed in Pay Dispute Between Port Arthur Police Association and City
PORT ARTHUR – 12News has learned that a pay dispute between the City of Port Arthur and its police department has resulted in officers working without a new contract and a temporary restraining order against the city.
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California Officer Fired for “Black Lives Matter” Tweets
SAN JOSE — A San Jose police officer who drew national scorn in December for his combative tweets antagonizing the Black Lives Matter movement — including some widely viewed as violent threats — has been fired by the San Jose Police Department, this newspaper has learned.
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Police Association Says “Enough is Enough” as Pay Dispute Drags On
Victoria’s police union has called upon Premier Daniel Andrews and the force to come to the table as members voted to head towards industrial action. PAV secretary Ron Iddles described the process as frustrating.
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Barstow Talks With Police Union Stalled?
The president of the Barstow Police Officer’s Association is accusing the city of Barstow of not bargaining in good faith. “There has been no movement. Talks have completely stalled,” William Spiller said Monday. Spiller is the president of the Barstow Police Officer’s Association.
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Waltham Police, Firefighters Unions Vote No-Confidence in Mayor
WALTHAM — A dispute between Waltham’s mayor and the city’s public safety officers came to a head Wednesday night when unions for the police and fire departments announced a vote of no-confidence in Jeannette A. McCarthy.
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Wis. Troopers’ Union Sues Over Policy Requiring Enforcement Data
MADISON, Wis. — The union representing Wisconsin’s State Patrol troopers sued the State Patrol and its superintendent on Monday, alleging that an experimental policy for evaluating trooper performance is illegal and unfair to those who work during overnight shifts or during hazardous weather.
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Albuquerque to Weigh Plan Boosting Police Officers’ Salaries
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Albuquerque city officials say they are opposed to a proposal that would dole out $5 million to settle a lawsuit with the police union. The Albuquerque Journal reports that the City Council will consider legislation that would raise pay for rank-and-file officers and settle a suit related to salary growth.
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Wilmington Appeals Arbiter’s Police Raise Ruling
Wilmington officials are asking state arbitrators to reconsider a decision that would require the city to give its police officers retroactive raises. The city’s appeal will be considered at a hearing before the state Public Employment Relations Board on Nov. 18 at 10 a.m.
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Firefighters’ Union Owes Clout to Its Free-Spending Chief
The International Association of Fire Fighters is a small union of just under 300,000 members with political influence far beyond its size. The obvious reason for this is the respect many Americans have for firefighters, who consistently rank as some of the country’s most admired professionals. The less obvious reason is Harold A. Schaitberger, a tall, barrel-chested man with meaty hands and rheumy eyes, who has served as the union’s general president for over 15 years.
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Union-Funded Ads About Atlantic City, but Issue is Pensions
Voters in New Jersey’s two competitive legislative races have been bombarded with television ads about the plight of Atlantic City casinos, but the group bankrolling the spots says they’re actually sending a message that the state should properly fund pensions.
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Firefighters’ Deal With Mitch Landrieu Exchanges Lawsuit Payments for Pension Overhaul
New Orleans firefighters have agreed to a deal with New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu that resolves nearly $100 million in legal judgments and addresses the firefighters’ pension fund, according to a source. READ MORE
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How Bloated Pensions Contribute to Police Brutality
In a city besieged by police brutality scandals in recent years, the IPRA has ruled against a police officer just once out of 400 cases since 2007. Now we learn that earlier this month, IPRA investigators received a week of training from police “force science expert” Bill Lewinski.
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MWC Fire, Police Unions Seek Recall of Mayor Collins; Want City Manager Fired
MIDWEST CITY, Okla. – Public safety employees in Midwest City are leading the effort to recall Mayor Dee Collins for his apparent failure to support the police and fire departments. The recall petition drive will start next week, according to Doug Beabout, president of the Midwest City firefighters union. The petition drive will require 433 signatures to force Collins into a recall election.
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Chicago Mayor Blames City’s Crime Uptick on Officers Second-Guessing Themselves
CHICAGO — Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Monday stood by his contention that Chicago police officers are becoming “fetal” out of concern they will get in trouble for actions during arrests, blaming officers second-guessing themselves in the wake of high-profile incidents for rising crime rates in Chicago and elsewhere. READ MORE
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